Hanoi seeks business help on 30 city problems

That matters because the city is trying to make science and technology a more direct engine of growth, not just a source of reports and conferences. By tying public funding to practical output, Hanoi is signaling a shift toward projects with commercialization potential, especially in digital infrastructure, smart transport, supply-chain efficiency and industrial automation.

The 30 problems are split into four groups, with 16 of them focused on growth and technology mastery. Those include data economy development, “Make in Hanoi” platforms, lower logistics costs, smart production, core technologies, fintech and efforts to lift small and medium-sized firms through AI and automation.

The other major buckets cover urban bottlenecks such as traffic congestion, pollution, flooding and food safety, where the city is pointing to smart transport systems, AI, real-time forecasting, traceability and automated monitoring. Hanoi is also looking for solutions in urban space planning, security, social welfare and sustainability.

For investors, the policy points to deeper demand for companies selling software, industrial tech, digital platforms and urban infrastructure tools in Vietnam’s capital, while widening the field for local startups and research groups that can turn public-sector problems into contracts. It also suggests a more market-oriented approach to state support, with the city asking businesses to show why the market has not already solved the issue and whether public budget funding is needed.

The initiative fits a broader Vietnam push to use innovation to sustain faster growth and integrate further into global value chains. If Hanoi can turn the 30 problem statements into funded pilots and commercial deployments, it could become a template for how local governments in Vietnam use technology policy to unlock productivity gains and attract private investment.